A year ago, Trey Burton was on top of the world.
The junior running back rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns against one of the Gators’ biggest rivals.
Burton’s second touchdown — an 80-yard carry — was the first of four unanswered Florida scores in the second half against Tennessee in Neyland Stadium as the Gators defeated the Volunteers 37-20.
“You know, we were down at halftime and we came back in the second half and played really well as an offense,” Burton said.
But Burton has not replicated that success on the ground since that night in Knoxville, Tenn.
Both of the senior’s touchdown runs against Tennessee last year were out of the Wildcat package, where Burton lines up at quarterback and takes snaps. The formation is designed to confuse the defense so Burton can break off a big gain.
It worked against the Volunteers but has seen only mixed results since then.
Since that game, Burton has rushed 27 times from the Wildcat package for a total of 95 yards — an average of 3.5 yards per carry.
Offensive coordinator Brent Pease said Tuesday that he believes the package is generally successful, working a majority of the time. But when Burton rushes out of that package, he usually fails to gain much ground.
Six of Burton’s 27 rushing attempts have gone for negative yards since UF played UT last year. When Burton did advance the ball on the ground, it was often only for a modest gain. Thirteen of those 27 rushes went for gains of 5 yards or fewer.
Despite the lukewarm results, Pease said the Gators will stick with Burton in the Wildcat. Other Gators believe the package can continue to be successful, too.
“I really, really enjoy [the Wildcat],” Burton said.
“I think it works really well. I think we wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.”
Added defensive lineman Damien Jacobs: “It’s going to be a mismatch for a lot of people, because Trey just has a nose for the end zone.”
The mismatch did work occasionally in 2012 aside from Tennessee. Burton managed three runs of 10 or more yards, including a 24-yard carry against Florida State that helped lead Florida to a Caleb Sturgis field goal.
“I think we’re always trying to see where in the open field, where in the red zone we can put him in that situation and make some plays,” Pease said.
Florida has had more success when other players get their hands on the ball out of the Wildcat.
For the rest of the regular season following UF’s win against UT, when Burton lined up at quarterback and handed the ball off, ball carriers averaged 8.2 yards per touch. Former wide receiver Omarius Hines averaged 10.8 yards in the Wildcat; former running back Mike Gillislee averaged 5 yards out of the formation.
Both of those players are gone. The two players who received touches from Burton who are still on the roster are wideout Solomon Patton and tailback Matt Jones. The two combined for 20 yards on three rushes.
“I think it’s a big plus with Solomon with so much speed,” Jacobs said.
“[He and Burton] can make big plays on that all day.”
Burton has moved around the offense since he came to Florida. Originally a quarterback, he has had limited opportunities to throw out of the Wildcat.
Since the Gators played the Volunteers last season, he has thrown four times, completing three passes for 4 yards. His last pass attempt was an incompletion directed to his brother, tight end Clay Burton, against Florida State.
The Wildcat is primarily a running package, but depending on Pease’s play calls, Burton may get a chance to relive his past exploits — whether it is his long runs from last year or his passes from high school.
“We’ll find out on Saturday,” Burton said.
Follow Adam Lichtenstein on Twitter @ALichtenstein24.
Senior wide receiver Trey Burton runs down the field during Florida’s 21-16 loss to Miami on Sept. 7 in Sun Life Stadium.
